Momenbaru Beach sits in Yomitan Village, in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
The name is read “Momenbaru”.
Known for its clear water and white sand, and with gentle waves, it is the kind of beach that feels almost private.
There are hardly any tourists — just a handful of locals and people working at the US base — so it really does have that private-beach atmosphere.
It is a great pick if you want to spend some unhurried time in Okinawa.
Momenbaru Beach ratings
*Ratings are the personal view of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, based on comparison with other beaches in the prefecture
Momenbaru Beach essentials
| Swimming season | None in particular |
| Hours | None in particular |
| Swimming fee | Free |
| Safety net | None |
| Lifeguard | None |
| Shower room | None |
| Lockers | None |
| Swim gear rental | None |
| Activities | None |
| Shop | Available There is a café |
| Restroom | None |
| Official website | None |
Momenbaru Beach has no safety net and no lifeguards on duty.
If you want to swim or try marine activities, we recommend Toguchi Beach, which is properly equipped.
What Makes It Worth Visiting
Wonderfully clear water
The water is exceptionally clear and genuinely beautiful.
Ryukyu limestone breaks through the surface here and there, and it makes for a beautiful sight.
You can snorkel here
Snorkeling is on offer at Momenbaru Beach.
Yomitan Village has snorkeling, diving and plenty of other activities, so take a look on Viator or GetYourGuide.
About 500 metres of beautiful sand
The roughly 500-metre beach is lovely, white and wonderfully soft.
There are shells on the sand, but walking barefoot does not hurt at all.
There was even a tree shaped like a chair — formed naturally, perhaps?
You will see people out on SUPs
There were people paddling on SUPs, and my impression was that most of them were from overseas.
With hardly any tourists around, it feels much like a private beach.
Surrounded by greenery
Greenery wraps around the area, and once you pass through the trees Momenbaru Beach appears quietly in front of you.
The entrance is easy to miss, but you can park nearby and walk in.
Hamabe no Kitchen Momenbaru
It has the feel of a stylish café, with terrace seating as well.
Looking out at Momenbaru Beach from Hamabe no Kitchen Momenbaru is a fine way to spend some time.
Please note
Presumably because of the US base nearby, flying drones is prohibited.
Please follow the rules during your visit.
Access and parking
| Access | About 50 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | Toguchi, Yomitan Village, Nakagami District, Okinawa |
| Activities | None |
| Parking | Available (free) |
| Restroom | None |
Momenbaru Beach has no dedicated car park, but there is space where you can pull in.
Please see the photo and map below for details.
Around Momenbaru Beach
Activities in Yomitan Village
Yomitan Village offers a variety of marine activities.
You can book diving, snorkeling, SUP and more.
If you would like to try diving or snorkeling, why not take a look at the activities available in Yomitan Village?
Toguchi Beach
Toguchi Beach is a popular beach in Yomitan Village, and it sits very close to Momenbaru Beach.
At low tide you can even walk from Momenbaru Beach all the way to Toguchi Beach.
Toguchi Beach has full swimming facilities, barbecue areas and a range of marine activities.
The Momenbaru Site
The Momenbaru Site, a nationally designated historic site, is where box-shaped stone coffin burials thought to date from the middle of Okinawa’s Shell Mound period were first discovered in the prefecture.
Source: https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/140087
A rental car is the way to go in Okinawa
For sightseeing on Okinawa’s main island, a rental car is by far the best option.
The places worth visiting are scattered across the island, from Shuri Castle in Naha to the beautiful beaches up north and American Village in Chatan, and with a car you can work through them at your own pace. Local buses are infrequent and rarely run to schedule, so having a rental car makes an enormous difference to how much you get out of the trip.
Cars fill up quickly in the peak season, so we recommend booking early once your travel dates are set. One important note for overseas visitors: to drive in Japan you must obtain an International Driving Permit (Geneva Convention) in your home country before you depart, and remember that traffic in Japan drives on the left.
Summary
In this article we introduced Momenbaru Beach.
With hardly any tourists — just a handful of locals and people working at the US base — it is a beach with a genuinely private feel.
It is a particularly good pick if you want to spend a quiet, unhurried stretch of time on an Okinawan beach.
Thank you for reading to the end.
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